Rail-joint.



W. T. SMITH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAYM, 1915.

1 ,1 92,698. Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Elwwntoz WI dmz'iio.

W. T. SMITH.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION man MAY 14. m5.

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WILLIAM E. SMITH, 0F BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

BAIL-JOINT.

Application filed May 14, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM T. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bcllefontaine, in the county of Logan and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for connectingthe meeting ends of railway rails, the object being to simplify andimprove the existing art by providing a chair upon which the meetingends of the rails rest and connecting the angle bars or fish plates tothe chair in such a manner as to prevent the downward movement of therails at the joint thereof and also to obviate the liability of thecreeping of the rails, but at the same time permitting of the necessarylongitudinal movement, thereof incident to the expansion and contractionof the rails.

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in thefollowing specification and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of two rails connectedin accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view approximately on the line 9.2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is asimilar sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4;is a perspective View of the rail chair, Fig.5 is a similar view of oneof the angle bars, Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view approximatelyon the line 66 of Fig. 2, Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating aslight modification, Fig. 8 is a secticnal view approximately on theline 88 of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of thesections of the chair, and Fig. 10 is a similar View of one of thespikes.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numerals l-1 designaterails connected in accordance with the present invention, and 22 theties upon which the rails rest. The rails are of the ordinaryconstruction and in the preferred form of my device the ends of therails are connected by angle bars 3-3, each of said angle bars havingits vertical portion received within the fishing spaces of the rails andsecured thereto through the medium of the usual connecting elements inthe nature of bolts and nuts therefor. The horizontal flange of each ofthe angle bars is provided adjacent its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, rain.

Serial No. 28,144.

opposite ends, with outwardly extendin tongues 4- 1, the said tonguesbeing preferably square or rectangular in plan.

The numeral 5 designates the chair member upon which the meeting ends ofthe rails are received. The chair includes a base 6 winch is preferablyhorizontally straight and which also is preferably let into suitableopenings in at least three of the ties. The chair is, provided withvertically projecting longitudinally extending side anges 7-7, each ofsaid flanges embracing one of the opposite longitudinal edges of theconnected rails, and the said side flanges are approximately centrallyformed with; extensions 8, the said extensions being provided withlongitudinal slots 9 through which the tongues di of the angle barspass. The chair 5 has its base to the opposite sides of its extensions 8formed with flat horizontal projections 10, and, if desired, spikes maybe inserted with in the ties and engaged in notches in the saidprojections 10, and still further similar spikes may be forced into theties to engage with the side flanges proper which are indicated by thenumerals 7, the said spikes, of course, entering the ties 2.

In arranging the rails upon the chair one of the side plates or anglebars is first arranged upon the chair and has its tongues 4; passedthrough on of the side flanges of the chair. Next the rails areassembled upon the chair. Thereafter, the second angle bar isdisposed atan angle to the rails, having its tongues passing through slots 9 uponthe second extension of the side flanges. Thereafter, the said secondmentioned angle bar is forced into contact with the rails and the nutsand bolts are adjusted as will readily be understood.

Upon the left hand side of the device illus trated in Fig. l, I haveshown fish plates or angle bars 11, the same having their verticalmembers received within the fishing spaces of the rails and thelongitudinal edges of the horizontal flanges of said members 11 are bentbelow the rails and are received within suitable slots in one or'mo-reof the ties 1. to the rails by the usual nuts and bolts, as clearlyillustrated by the drawings.

In Figs. 7 to 9 I have illustrated a still further modified form of mydevice, In these figures the rails 12-12 are of the ordinaryconstruction and the fish plates or angle bars 13-13 are also similar tothose These angle bars 11 are connected.

50 J art to which such invention appertains with-' I out furtherdetailed description.

previously described, the same being connected to the webs of the railsin the usual manner, such as by nuts and bolts and the said fish platesadjacent their opposite ends are formed with outwardly projectingtongues l41 l. The chair 16 is constructed of a pair of members eachincluding a base which is approximately equal to onehalf of the width ofthe rails and the inner or longit'udinaledges of said chair members 16are preferably bent downwardly or othera V wise provided withlongitudinally extending flanges 17.- The ties 18 are recessed toreceive the chair sections and each of said sections is provided with anouter longitu dinally V extending vertically disposed flange 19. Each ofthese flanges is approximately centrallyprovided with an upstandingportion 20 and each of the said upstanding portionsis formed with alongitudinal slot 21 to receive the tongues 1 1-4 1 of the respectivefish plates or angle barsll3l3.

Extending longitudinally of the upstanding portions 20 and the base ofeach of the chair sections is formed an auxiliary extension 22 and eachof said extensions is approximately centrally provided with a slot oropening 23, the said opening being preferably disposed approximatelycentral of one of the ties 18, and passing through the opening 23 is theshank 24: of a securing member 25 which enters the central tie 18; Thismember 25 is provided with aright angular head 26 which engages with thevertical edge of the [upstanding portions 20 of the chair members '16,and the'said shank 24: is disposed between the tongues 1a which projecta suitable distance beyond the members 2 of theichair sections 16, Ofcourseyspikes or other suitable securing elements may be mserted 1n theremaining ties, thef'said spikes having their heads contacting with theupper edges of the longitudinally ex tending flanges l? and ifnecessary, with the outer longitudinal edges of the rails.

From theabove description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the simplicity of the device, as Well as the advantagesthereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled inthe Having thusdescribed the invention,what I claim is: i

supporting'ties and'having vertical side 7 flanges which are of a heightapproximately equal vto the thickness of the edges of the flanges of'therails and j which engage copies of this pate t m y he anne for the saidflanges, said sides at the portion thereof arranged over the centraltie, being widened and formed with spaced longitudinal slots which havetheir lower walls disposed slightly belowthe tops of the flanges, thechair below the widened portions of the side flanges having laterallyextending horizontally disposed members which rest on the central tie,angle bars for the rails having the edges of their horizontal portionsprovided with extending tongues which are receivedin the mentioned slotsin theside flanges of the base, and members having angular dependingheads, said members being inserted through the horizontal extensions ofthe chair and forced into the central tie,

widened portions thereof of the chairand having their headsengaging withthe inner facecof the said widened portions of the sides and overlyingthe horizontal portions 7 of the angleibars.

- 2. A joint member for rails including a chair having a flat base onwhich the rails rest, said chairbeing of a length to rest on three ofthe :supporting ties and being formed with a central depending flangewhich is let into the ties, the base of the chair having vertical sideflanges to contact with the edges of'the rail flange and the said arelet into the mentionedcentral tie, angle bars of a length approximatelyequal that of the mentioned extension of the side flanges said membershugging the side and the of the chair arranged upon the opposite sidesof'the rails, the horizontal plate of 'each of the angle bars havingoutwardly projectingtongues which pass through the referred to slots inthe central widened portion of the side flanges of the chair, andmembers having hook shapedheads passing, .through openings in thelateral extensions of the base of the chair and into the central tie,and the hook shaped head of each of'the said members embracing thecentral widened portion of the side flanges of the chair andf I v rlyngvthe horizontalplates of the angle 7 bars.

In testimony whereof'I afiix my signature in presenceoftwowitnesses. V a7 WILLIAM T. SMITH. Witnesses: r o

Gno. SMITH, roflgENNEDY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. 7'Washington, D; 0.1 Q i I 'r 7

